Daily Readings - Tue Nov 17 2020
Revelation
1"And to the Angel of the Church of Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name which is alive, but you are dead2Be vigilant, and confirm the things that remain, lest they soon die out. For I do not find your works to be full in the sight of my God3Therefore, keep in mind the way that you have received and heard, and then observe it and repent. But if you will not be vigilant, I will come to you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you4But you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And these shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy5Whoever prevails, so shall he be clothed in white vestments. And I will not delete his name from the Book of Life. And I will confess his name in the presence of my Father and in the presence of his Angels6Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches14And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, who is the Beginning of the creation of God15I know your works: that you are neither cold, nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot16But because you are lukewarm and are neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth17For you declare, ‘I am wealthy, and I have been enriched further, and I have need of nothing.’ And you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked18I urge you to buy from me gold, tested by fire, so that you may be enriched and may be clothed in white vestments, and so that the shame of your nakedness may disappear. And anoint your eyes with an eye salve, so that you may see19Those whom I love, I rebuke and chastise. Therefore, be zealous and do penance20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will hear my voice and will open the door to me, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with me21Whoever prevails, I will grant to him to sit with me on my throne, just as I also have overcome and have sat down with my Father on his throne22Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
Luke
1And having entered, he walked through Jericho2And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. And he was the leader of the tax collectors, and he was wealthy3And he sought to see Jesus, to see who he was. But he was unable to do so, because of the crowd, for he was small in stature4And running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree, so that he might see him. For he was to pass near there5And when he had arrived at the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and he said to him: "Zacchaeus, hurry down. For today, I should lodge in your house.6And hurrying, he came down, and he received him joyfully7And when they all saw this, they murmured, saying that he had turned aside to a sinful man8But Zacchaeus, standing still, said to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, one half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone in any matter, I will repay him fourfold.9Jesus said to him: "Today, salvation has come to this house; because of this, he too is a son of Abraham10For the Son of man has come to seek and to save what had been lost.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The first reading from Revelation addresses the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. The church in Sardis is warned that while it appears alive, it is actually dead, and the church in Laodicea is rebuked for being lukewarm, neither fully committed nor entirely indifferent. Both communities are called to repentance, to seek the gold tested by fire, and to open the door to Christ’s presence in their lives. The Gospel from Luke presents us with the story of Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who, despite his small stature and social marginalization, seeks Jesus with determination. When Jesus enters Zacchaeus’ home, it sparks a profound conversion: Zacchaeus pledges to give half his goods to the poor and to repay fourfold those he has cheated. Jesus declares that salvation has come to his house because Zacchaeus, like a true son of Abraham, has responded to God’s grace.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on spiritual awakening and the call to live with integrity. Revelation’s message to the churches serves as a wake-up call, urging believers not to settle for mediocrity in their faith. Similarly, Zacchaeus’ story illustrates what it means to respond wholeheartedly to Christ’s presence. His actions demonstrate that true conversion involves not only a change of heart but also a change in behavior, particularly in how we treat others and use our resources. Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive state but an active, dynamic relationship with God that transforms every aspect of our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without real passion or commitment? Do we allow Christ to enter our lives and challenge us to change? Zacchaeus’ example shows us that encountering Christ can lead to radical transformation, but it requires humility, openness, and a willingness to act. Let us strive to be vigilant in our faith, to seek the “gold tested by fire,” and to live in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, welcome Christ into our homes and hearts, and may our lives bear fruit in accordance with his will.